October 2014 – Julie Halpert

Reflecting on Boomer Reinvention

As a freelance journalist with more than enough work to keep me busy, it’s not unusual for me to produce roughly two to three articles a week, many representing significant time and effort. I feel very fortunate and am happy for the assignments, but this situation rarely offers me the time to step back and review some of the subjects I’ve covered and the implications of the developments in a particular area. So I was pleased to be contacted by Garrison Leykam, a radio host in Connecticut, who was interested in speaking about the way boomers are reinventing retirement. It’s a subject I’ve written about extensively, and I enjoyed the chance to look back on my previous articles and chat about the important ways that boomers are making their mark on this phase in their lives. You can catch the interview here.

If Diagnosed With Breast Cancer, Don’t Let Worry Rule Your Decision

Just slightly over 12 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Having just turned 40, and then the mother of three children ages four, seven and 10, it would be an understatement to say this diagnosis rocked my world. At the time, I knew just a handful of women my age with breast cancer. Today, those numbers are swelling. And many, gripped with fear about the breast cancer returning, and eager to get it out of their body for good, are turning to radical treatment that, in many cases, won’t alter their survival rates. In an article I wrote for Glamour, I had the opportunity to delve into the reasons why many young women are opting for unilateral and bilateral mastectomies, removing their entire breast, when a less invasive lumpectomy followed by radiation would be just as effective. By speaking with women who chose this course and those who decided to get lumpectomies, I was able to better understand the factors motivating this very difficult, personal decision. In the end, every woman has to decide what’s best for her. There’s no doubt about it. Getting a breast cancer diagnosis is scary. But as we kick off breast cancer awareness month, I hope women will take the time to research the extensive studies and research on the most viable treatment options. I hope they’ll get a second opinion and connect with other breast cancer survivors to hear what worked for them, and what didn’t, so they’ll know all their possible options before heading into surgery. In tackling this disease, education is often the best weapon.